Fire escape



July 22, 1941- E. c. HAMMILL.

FIRE ESCAPE Filed Sept. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorney Judy 22 E941. E. c. HAMMILL 2,249,897

FIRE ESCAPE I Filed Sept. 26, 19401 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor fo rmn/a 6271/21/1 Patented July 22, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT QFFICE FIRE ESCAPE Edward C. Hammill, Westville, N. J.

Application September 26, 1940, Serial No. 358,534

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire escapes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a flexible chute of a novel construction and arrangement whereby people who may be trapped in a burning building may slide by gravity to safety from one of the windows thereof.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a fire escape of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for connecting one end of the flexible chute to a window frame or ladder.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fire escape of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view, illustrating one manner of using a fire escape constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the upper end portion of the fire escape.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the upper end portion of the device, showing said device connected to a ladder.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective, showing the method of connecting the flexible chute to the side ropes.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the fire escape.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a flexible chute I which may be of any desired length or width. The chute I is of canvas or other suitable flexible material and the inner surface thereof is preferably waxed. Adjacent its edges the chute I is provided with spaced eyelets 2.

The upper portion of the chute I is connected to a pair of longitudinal side chains 3 through the medium of S hooks 4. The rest of the chute I is connected to a pair of longitudinal side ropes 5 through the medium of comparatively small tie ropes 6. The connections 6 are illustrated to advantage in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The eyelets 2 accommodate the hooks 4 and the tie ropes 6. The ropes 5 are connected to the chains 3.

Connected to the upper ends of the side chains 3 are metallic rods I. The rods I are provided with eyes 8 on one end to which the chains 3 are connected. At their other ends the rods I terminate in outturned hooks 9 which are engageable over the top rung and side rails of a ladder II) in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings for connecting the fire escape to said ladder.

Formed integrally with the rods I are inwardly extending loops II which, if desired, may be utilized'as hand holds. Projecting outwardly from the rods 1 are integral hooks I2 which, as suggested in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are engageable behind the side members of certain window frames I3 for connecting the fire escape directly to the building. The loops I I strengthen the rod I. Integral braces I4 extend between the rods I and the loops II.

Extending between the lower portions of the loops II is a resilient connector I5. The upper end of the flexible sheet I is secured to the resilient connector I5 by means including 8 hooks I6. The upper end portion of the chute I is also connected at I! to the eyes 8 on the lower ends of the rods I. Eyes I8 on the loops II receive the ends of the resilient connector I5.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the ladder I0 is placed in position and one end of the device is carried up to the window from which the rescue or escape is to be made. The lateral hooks I2 are then engaged behind the vertical side members on the inside of the window frame I3 after which the chute I may be pulled substantially taut at the desired inclination by two or more persons standing on the ground and gripping the side ropes 5. This is suggested in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Or, if desired, the device may be positioned for use by engaging the hooks 9 over the top rung of the ladder Ill and around the side rails thereof. Also, the rods I may be placed transversely across the window sill and the hooks 9 engaged beneath the inner portion thereof. The device is now ready for use. A person may now slide head first or feet first without injury down the flexible waxed chute I to safety. Unconscious persons and bodies may also be removed from the building in this manner thereby obviating the necessity of carrying them down a ladder, as at present.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fire escape constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A fire escape of the class described comprising a flexible chute, flexible supporting members connected to the longitudinal marginal portions of said chute, rods on one end of said supporting members, lateral hooks projecting outwardly from said rods and engageable with the side members of a window frame for detachably connecting the chute thereto, resilient means connected to the rods for pulling said rods toward each other and engaging the hooks behind the window frame, and means connecting one end of the chute to said resilient means.

EDWARD C. HANIMIILL. 

